Christmas Stamps 2011

Philatelic bureaus around the world have traditionally issued postage stamps designed to recognise and stimulate the surge in mail associated with the Christmas festive season in December and January. Here’s a sample of the designs being offered this year.

The Bulgaria Christmas stamp, designed by Yana Levieva, features a snowman.

The Canada Christmas stamps, issued by Canada Post and designed by Andrew Perro, depict the story of Jesus’ birth, as seen in the stained-glass windows of St. Mary’s Cathedral in Kingston, Ontario. A fourth stamp, designed by Hélène L’Heureux, brings together holly in a setting of scattered snowflakes.

The Christmas Island stamps, illustrated by Andrew Hopgood and designed by Jennifer Scalzo, feature Father Christmas pulling crackers and arriving on Christmas Island, surrounded by Christmas Island fauna and flora.

The Hungary Christmas stamps, issued by Magyar Posta, photographed by József Hajdú and designed by Eszter Domé, feature nativity scenes from the Nagykaracsony church and the Roman Catholic church in Vors.

The Iceland Christmas stamps, issued by Iceland Post, designed by Gudbjorg Ringsted, feature the craft of goldwork.

Japan Post has issued a series of stamps featuring illustrations dedicated to snow, winter and Christmas, designed by Satoshi Iriyama, Nakamaru Hitomi, Ken Black, Sonoko Arai.

Philatelie Liechtenstein has issued a set of stamps featuring Christmas cribs from the parish church of St. Gallus, Triesen, the St. Florin parish church Vaduz crib, and the Parish church of the Assumption Bendern. The stamps were designed by Stephanie Keiser.

Luxembourg’s Christmas stamp, designed by Muriel Moritz, features a family seated around a festive table.

Malta Post has issued three Christmas stamps recreating traditional nativity paintings: “The Holy Family in an interior”, “The Madonna and Child with Infant Saint John the Baptist” and “The Rest on the Flight into Egypt”.

The New Zealand Christmas stamps, designed by Karen Mounsey-Smith, highlight five key moments in the Nativity story.

The Niue Christmas 2011 stamp issue combines photographic scenery of Niue with the Star of Bethlehem, which appeared in the night sky upon the birth of the baby Jesus. The combination of these two elements signifies the importance of the Nativity to the stunning and untouched Pacific island of Niue.

The Norway Christmas stamps, issued by Posten, designed by Kristin Granli, feature children preparing for Christmas and opening parcels.

The Pitcairn Islands Christmas stamps, designed by Karen Mounsey-Smith, features the visit of the Magi.

The Poland Christmas stamps, designed by Marek Kwiatkowski, feature a nativity scene and Mikolaj (Santa) on his sleigh.

The Romania Christmas stamp, available in a book of 9, features a 19-th century Madonna and child icon from the Orthodox church of Satu-Nou-Oltina (Constanta county), designed by Mihai Vamasescu.

Russia’s holiday season stamp features a Christmas decoration and a New Year greeting.

The Slovakia Christmas stamp, issued by Posta Slovenska, designed by Marianna Žálec Varcholová, features the early Christian symbol of the fish, prepared in traditional Slovak honey cake bakery.

Spain’s Christmas stamps include two traditional stamps, with Luisa Roldán sculpture of the Holy Family with the baby Jesus beginning to walk, and a neoclassical version of the Holy Family by painter J. Carrero.

Sweden’s Christmas stamps, issued by Posten, designed by Molly Bark, features four Christmas flowers, arranged by Gunnar Kaj.

The Tokelau Christmas stamps feature the iconic Christmas tree, bauble, stocking and angel, set against a background depicting the tropical hibiscus flower.

UK Christmas stamps, issued by Royal Mail, feature images inspired by accounts of the Nativity from the Gospels of Luke and Matthew.

US holiday stamps include a Christmas stamp featuring Raphael’s painting Madonna of the Candelabra by Raphael, Holiday Baubles deisgned by art director William J. Gicker and illustrator Linda Fountain, a Hanukkah stamp designed by art director Ethel Kessler and illustrator Suzanne Kleinwaks, and a Kwanzaa stamp designed by art director Derry Noyes.

The Correo Uruguayo Christmas 2011 stamp, designed by Maria Martinez, provides a Uruguayan version of Maria, gaucho (shepherd) and baby Jesus in Christmas crib.

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